ANOTHER MILESTONE
THE NORTH AMERICA'S SUPERHIGHWAY SYSTEM
U.S. DOT Secretary Slater Announces Today's
Signing By President Clinton of the $200 Bln
Transportation Equity Act For The 21st Century
Announcement Of The All-American Roads,
Scenic Byways Program: No Roads In Texas
Date: 6/9/98 10:59:14 AM Central Daylight Time
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary ~ Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20590
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 9, 1998
Contact: Karen Whitney
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 24-98
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater
Announces All-American Roads,
Scenic Byways in 19 States
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced
that 33 roads in 19 states have been designated 1998 All-American Roads
or National Scenic Byways because of their scenic, natural, historic,
cultural, archaeological or recreational qualities.
"President Clinton and Vice President Gore have asked us to do
all we can to protect and enhance communities and our environment,"
Secretary Slater said. "The National Scenic Byways program enables
Americans to fully enjoy the roads that are important to us culturally,
historically and esthetically."
This program will continue under the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century which today is being signed by President Clinton.
The National Scenic Byways program, designed to recognize and
enhance the best of America's national transportation corridors, is
managed by the department's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Designations are made in two categories, All-American Roads and National
Scenic Byways.
All-American Roads, the highest designation, provide visitors
with a unique driving experience. They are roads that travelers want to
enjoy, and they are destinations unto themselves. International visitors
are encouraged to include these roads in their travels to the United States.
National Scenic Byways are exceptional roads that exemplify
regional characteristics of the nation's culture, history and landscape.
They are often "off the beaten path" and provide a taste of real Americana.
Today's announcement marks the second round of designations under
the National Scenic Byways program. Twenty roads were designated in
1996.
One of the All-American Road roads included in the 1996
designations, the San Juan Skyway, helped boost the tourism industry in
that region. Ken Francis, Friends of San Juan Skyway coordinator, said
the designation has helped bring additional visitors to southwest
Colorado and has helped move forward important byway resource protection
initiatives.
Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of
1991, $74.3 million was awarded in Scenic Byway discretionary grant funds
to 39 states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, for 538
projects. Under TEA-21, $148 million will be made available for the
scenic byways discretionary program. Highways designated as All-American
Roads or National Scenic Byways will receive priority consideration for
these funds which will be used for the development of programs and
related services along scenic byways.
The roads receiving All-American Road and National Scenic Byway
designations in 1998 were selected by a panel of experts, among whom were
representatives from the tourism industry, historic preservation
organizations, tribal communities, and other public and private
organizations. They evaluated nominations submitted by states and
federal agencies for the 1998 designations.
For additional information or to obtain brochures on the 1998 and
1996 designations, call 1-800-4-BYWAYS (1-800-429-9297). Digital
photographs of activities at the event during which the designated roads
were announced are available on the National Scenic Byways Program web
site at www.byways.org. A list of the 1998 designations follows.
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1998 All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways
All-American Roads
Oregon Historic Columbia River Gorge
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Washington Mather Memorial Parkway
National Scenic Byways
Alabama Talladega Scenic Drive
Alaska The Seward Highway
Arkansas Crowley's Ridge Parkway
Arizona Kaibab Plateau - North Rim Parkway
California Death Valley Scenic Byway
Colorado Frontier Pathways
Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
Top of the Rockies
Illinoi Ohio River Scenic Route
Meeting of the Great Rivers
Indiana The National Road
Minnesota The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway
New Hampshire White Mountain Trail
New Mexico Billy the Kid Trail
El Camino Real
Jemez Mountain Trail
Santa Fe Trail
North Carolina Cherohala Skyway
Ohio Ohio River Scenic Route
Oregon Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
Outback Scenic Byway
South Carolina Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway
Savannah River Scenic Highway
South Dakota The Native American Scenic Byway
Utah Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
Nebo Loop Scenic Byway
Washington Mountains to Sound Greenway
West Virginia The Coal Heritage Trail
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